Dec. 27, 2007
NORFOLK, Va. - Two former Lady Monarch sailing standouts and current U.S. Olympians were named as nominees for US Sailing's Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year on Thursday. The award is widely considered the top honor in competitive sailing. Sally Barkow (Nashotah, Wisc.) is in contention for her second "best of" honor and Anna Tunnicliffe (Plantation, Fla.) is seeking her first. Both were ICSA All-Americans in college under current head coach Mitch Brindley and will represent the United States in the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
Sally Barkow ('02) won the award in 2005 and will represent the United States in the 2008 Beijing Olympics as a part of the nation's top Yngling team with Carrie Howe and fellow former Monarch Debbie Capozzi. Barkow is trying to become the sixth woman in history to repeat as the Yachtswoman of the Year since the awards inception in 1961.
Anna Tunnicliffe ('05) became the first ever winner of back-to-back-to-back ICSA Singlehanded national championships during her tenure at ODU and was named the 2005 Quantum Female College Sailor of the Year. She edged out 2006 Rolex Yachtswoman of the Year Paige Railey in the U.S. Olympic trials by five points to earn the top spot and a chance to represent the USA in the Olympics next summer.
This marks the third year in a row that both Old Dominion alums were nominated.